Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster advertising Frank Mumford's Stars on Strings, to be used at various venues for Forces' entertainment, ca.1943

Poster
ca.1943 (printed)
Artist/Maker

This poster advertised Stars on Strings, the marionette show performed by the young private Frank Mumford (1918-2014) while serving in the army's Stars in Battledress division. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment, under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain.

ENSA, the entertainment organisation formed by Basil Dean in 1939, enlisted civilians who could not perform in areas of conflict. Stars in Battledress, started by Colonel Basil Brown, Major Bill Alexander and Captain George Black (son of the impresario George Black) encompassed all three services, and was not restricted to concert locations.

This poster was part of the collection of memorabilia of his career made by Frank Mumford, who performed with his puppets for over 70 years, starting at the Wood Green Empire aged 14, billed as Master Mumford and his Marionettes'. Mademoiselle Zizi was his most famous creation, the pint-sized chanteuse based on Lana Turner. Professor Fyodor Lethitinsky was her accompanist.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePoster advertising Frank Mumford's <i>Stars on Strings,</i> to be used at various venues for Forces' entertainment, ca.1943 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Letterpress on paper
Brief description
Poster advertising the revue Stars on Strings 'A Revue Fantasy for Marionettes', produced by Private Frank Mumford for The Central Pool of Artistes. Letterpress, ca.1943
Physical description
Typographic poster in red and blue letterpress on white paper advertising Stars on Strings, described on the poster as 'A Revue fantasy for marionettes produced by Private F. Mumford'
Dimensions
  • Height: 62.5cm
  • Width: 50.6cm
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Allen
Object history
The poster was kept by Frank Mumford as a souvenir of Stars on Strings, the marionette shows he performed to troops serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain in areas of conflict during the latter stages of World War II
Associations
Summary
This poster advertised Stars on Strings, the marionette show performed by the young private Frank Mumford (1918-2014) while serving in the army's Stars in Battledress division. The War Office Central Pool of Artistes, based in London's Upper Grosvenor Street, was the organisation formed during the latter stages of World War II to provide entertainment, under the title Stars in Battledress, to troops in areas of conflict, by performers serving in the Armed Forces of Great Britain.

ENSA, the entertainment organisation formed by Basil Dean in 1939, enlisted civilians who could not perform in areas of conflict. Stars in Battledress, started by Colonel Basil Brown, Major Bill Alexander and Captain George Black (son of the impresario George Black) encompassed all three services, and was not restricted to concert locations.

This poster was part of the collection of memorabilia of his career made by Frank Mumford, who performed with his puppets for over 70 years, starting at the Wood Green Empire aged 14, billed as Master Mumford and his Marionettes'. Mademoiselle Zizi was his most famous creation, the pint-sized chanteuse based on Lana Turner. Professor Fyodor Lethitinsky was her accompanist.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.50-2019

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Record createdAugust 9, 2019
Record URL
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